Because it was so windy, the beach was pretty dead.
Here is the couple who own the restaurant…they’re from Quebec, Canada.
And here is Chris, Linda and Alan. They look happy, but we were all pretty miserable because of all the sand that was blowing into our faces and food…although we made the best of it. Linda jokingly referred to it as our own personal treatment of micro dermabrasion. Haha!
Alan offered to take my picture, but I said, “But my hair looks awful!!” Ha! Here I am with my awful hair.
And here’s breakfast…
Since there was no way it was going to be a beach day, I decided to take a day trip to Akumal. When I’ve been on the bus going to Valladolid and Tulum, the stop at Akumal looked pretty isolated to me.
So it was a little unnerving to get off there all by myself. You have to cross back over the highway on a walking bridge…
But it’s only a ½ mile walk into Akumal and this is what you see when you get there…
I just followed the street and ended up walking right past the main district. But I did see this little place for sale. Cute, huh?
When I realized I went too far, I decided to cut through to the beach so I wouldn’t have to backtrack. Mistake. The beach behind the homes along that area is NOT a beach. It’s extremely rocky with lots of fossil-like stones and, worst of all, VINES!!
So, I’m hopping from rock to rock, trying not to touch the vines, because once you touch them, you’re infected and will eventually be eaten by them. While I’m hopping around, I see one lone new athletic shoe on the rocks. Yep…they must have gotten that guy…all that’s left is his shoe. Sorry I didn´t get a picture of that...I was too busy just trying to survive.
All this time, I’m thinking to myself, “This better lead to the main area, because if I have to go back, I’m just going to throw myself into the sea.” Fortunately, it did..
Akumal is actually a little bay in a very small village-like setting…and very picturesque.
The sand is coarser and a little darker.
I stopped at Lol Ha for lunch…and was beaten up again by the winds. I opted for a club sandwich for lunch because it seemed like an Americanized-type restaurant.
Obligatory palm photo…
This strange looking thing is on the outside of the restaurant. It probably has a story, but I don’t know what it is.
It’s a very touristy place and there are a few artsy type shops as well as the typical souvenir shops.
More tile painting…
Only one restaurant off the beach…
A tiny market…
I’ll have to say that I thought Akumal was kind of strange. There just doesn’t seem like there’s that much to do and there aren’t many restaurants or bars. I think snorkeling and diving is a big thing there so that may be their main draw. I don’t think I’d ever go back. But, as usual, that’s just my dos centavos.
All this time, I’m thinking to myself, “This better lead to the main area, because if I have to go back, I’m just going to throw myself into the sea.” Fortunately, it did..
Akumal is actually a little bay in a very small village-like setting…and very picturesque.
The sand is coarser and a little darker.
I stopped at Lol Ha for lunch…and was beaten up again by the winds. I opted for a club sandwich for lunch because it seemed like an Americanized-type restaurant.
Obligatory palm photo…
This strange looking thing is on the outside of the restaurant. It probably has a story, but I don’t know what it is.
It’s a very touristy place and there are a few artsy type shops as well as the typical souvenir shops.
More tile painting…
Only one restaurant off the beach…
A tiny market…
I’ll have to say that I thought Akumal was kind of strange. There just doesn’t seem like there’s that much to do and there aren’t many restaurants or bars. I think snorkeling and diving is a big thing there so that may be their main draw. I don’t think I’d ever go back. But, as usual, that’s just my dos centavos. 
10 comments:
The sign under that strange statue says "the corner of the drunks". Looks more like a satanic thing to me though.
Akumal is where Jonna and Mimi have their condo. They of "blah, blah ginger" fame.
Hola Deb, looks like you had quite an abrasive day ,from the free sand blast to the volcanic obstacle course. Of course the reward was kick ass views and as always, cold cervazas.I liked the little beach bar.. talk about Low overhead..and good point made,, face your place away from the prevailing wind..Noted!That house is very Up town for sure, bet it had a price tag to match,, but alas no thatched roof.(lol).Hope you have a great day today .
I'd been waiting for someone to show me around Akumal! That's a gorgeous palm photo! I knew a guy from Seattle who owned a home on the beach there, and I got the feeling it was kind of an ex-pat town. I've always wanted to go down there to snorkel. What's interesting is your day of sandblasting. Everyone I know who's stayed there has complained about the wind. I know the weather's just plain bad down there this year, but it sounds like Akumal could be a little windy!
Deb, did your club sandwich have egg in it? I'm curious, as "my Debbie" eats them, and always comments about an egg being in them. carl/debbie
Wayne - Thanks for the blog note...I´ll check it out now that I´ve been there.
Barry - And to think people pay hundreds of dollars for dermabrasion and I got it for free! What´s worse is that I wear contacts...sandy grit blowing in your eyes is not a good match. I agree about the house having no palapa. I´ll work on that one.
Beck - ALL the beach towns were windy this past week. It took some of the fun out of the trip because it wasn´t comfortable sitting on the beach. I got that idea about Akumal being an ex-pat town, too. Puerto Morelos, too, for that matter. I´ll do another blog post on that soon.
Carl - My club sandwich didn´t have egg in it. Like I said in my post, the Lol Ha seemed very Americanized (and expensive), so I didn´t want to spend more money on a dish I could get at home. The club sandwich was about the cheapest thing on the menu and when there is only a couple restaurants in town, you have a captive audience!
Excuse me, but Akumal has more than a few restaurants. And you missed the jewel of Akumal, which is Half Moon Bay. If you'de kept going down the road the house for sale was on, you would have found more restaurants and Yal Ku Lagoon. A must for snorkelers. Sorry you didn't find Akumal enchanting. You must stay a few days to take it all in.
First of all, kudos to you for being such an intrepid bus traveler! I have a house the next village down from Akumal in Chan Chemuyil and we utilize the great Gringo services there. When we rent our casa, we always tell our guests that Akumal is an amazing place to snorkel with the sea turtles. You can swim out to the great coral reef that runs up from Central America. It never fails to charm...seeing a teenage sea turtle tugging on some turtle grass! In Akumal we use the ATM machine there, the yoga center, get Italian cold cuts and Hagan Daz Ice Cream, and the bakery there, Turtle Bay Cafe, has great American style hamburgers and BROWNIES. For those of us that spend a lot of time down here Akumal provides us with wonderful services and an 'away' community.
Yal Ku Lagoon is not to be missed if you are in the area again. It is a mix of salt water and fresh water from an underground river flow in making for some exquisite snorkeling. My place is Casa Metamorfosis, we are in the Mayan village across from 307. If any of you want some authentic Mayan culture and community with your beach holiday, check us out! Our beach is the completely undeveloped, not a building or a hotel in site-Xcael Beach. It is also the areas protected sanctuary for sea turtles. You can visit at night and watch the sea turtles come up on shore and lay their eggs. Check out Chemuyil some time, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it. One thing about Chemuyil I recommend-eat at the little front yard cafes that homeowners have set up. We get some pretty fine Mayan dinners for $2.50. For breakfast check out Cristina;s placem next to LaPalapa. Panuchos and huevos rancheros, fresh squeezed OJ-$3.00! We love it and we would never stay anywhere else on the Mayan Riviera!
Hi Deb, that strange looking thing in fron of the restaurant is EL CHUBACABRA!!!!!
That strange thing is actually Loquito de Lolha. He is the mail man at all of Lolha functions. He has quite a sense of humor and a great wardrobe. See more of him on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Akumal-Mexico/Lolha-Restaurant-and-Snack-Bar/132683971565?ref=ts#
Xelgoerig, Casa Metamorfosis and Meet me in Akumal - I will always be the first to admit if I screwed up. Obviously, I didn't see all there is to see in Akumal. But I was on my own and didn't have anyone tell me where to go or what to see. Now I know better. I'll take back my statement of "not going back." I will just have to be more educated next time. Thanks for the comments!
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